1920's The Arts | Chaplin, Charlie 1889-1977

COMEDIAN

Famous Face.

The American recognized more readily than any other throughout the world for more than seventy years was inhabited by an Englishman. Charles Spencer Chaplin, the child of English music-hall entertainers, grew up in English work-houses and orphanages, but his success story is a type of the American dream unrivaled by the imaginings of Hollywood: he became the supreme genius of movie comedy. His work has been analyzed by intellectuals and enjoyed everywhere by people wanting to be amused, and his Little Tramp is still such an identifiable Everyman that an impersonation of him has been used to sell electronic office equipment.

Early Shorts.

At twelve Chaplin was on the stage, and at seventeen he was touring with the Fred Karno comedy troupe. In 1914 he was hired by Mack Sennett to appear in the silent shorts made by Mack Sennett's Keystone studio in Hollywood. The Sennett company...